Art & Design of Kelli Murray

1.  Madwell Spring 2012 Collection. Drooling.

2. Pony Anarchy Magazine. An online magazine about creative folk, for creative folk.

Get inspired.

3.  I Love You to the Moon by Yellow Button Studio – Love everything about this.

3 and a half – Stomach Virus’s suck. But especially when you have a baby to care for.  Whatever got into me….come out please.

Another weekend gone with a blink of an eye.  This one was a rougher one than most.  It began with a hit and run I was involved in on Thursday night.  A car came flying out of no where from behind me as I was making a turn and defaced the front of my car.  The worst part was that Rylee was with me.  After seeing the car that hit me stop quite a ways ahead and put on his hazzards, I pulled myself together and checked to make sure my baby was fine.  We were both fine, untouched (praise God).  Amidst some tears and shaking hands I looked ahead again to see where the car was that hit me.  No where to be found.  I waited there a while, hoping that someone might stop to help or tell me where the other car had gone.  But after 15 minutes…no one stopped.  Not a single person with the exception a homeless man who had found my grill on the other side of the road and walked over to return it to me.  The lone kind samaritan.  Out of all the nice cars that passed me by….the one person that wanted to help was the guy that didn’t have one.  Ironic.    Not knowing what to do, I got back in my car to see if it wouldn’t make it home.  (The accident happened just minutes from my house.)  Even with the messed up alignment and near dragging bumper….”mama bear”, as I call her, limped home.  Sam came racing home from work after I called him in a panic right after the accident happened.  He helped me sort out all the insurance stuff and sat with me as I talked with the police about what happened.  It sucks that the innocent party on something like this ends up paying out of their own pocket….all for a night they’d rather forget.  But I suppose close calls like this remind us of what’s really important.  And I’m so thankful Rylee and I were not hurt.  Life is unpredictable isn’t it?  Everything can change in an instant.  We were just lucky.

Anyway, after the accident, Sam came down with the cold….which then was passed along to baby.  Surprisingly, I somehow managed to dodge it.  But it didn’t make the weekend much easier.  Poor baby seems to be feeling a little better today….but I am well, exhausted.  And I would love a re-do weekend….please?

On a happier note, I got this great detachable collar from SHOPAKIRA and this is the outfit I made around it.  I love collars and sweaters…..and really anything polka dot.

Shoes - Dolce Vita / Dress – Forever 21 / Snood - Pins and Needles / Sweater – Sparkle & Fade

  2 years ago today I got married to the love of my life, one year ago today a little miracle was formed in my belly, and today our family makes three!  God is so good.   I could not imagine a better partner to live life with, nor a more perfect baby to love on every day.  Knowing that I get to spend forever with these two makes my heart smile.

Today I woke up to some inspiring words from my mama that brought tears to my eyes.  This woman knows a thing or two about love….and I admire her so much for the mother and wife that she is…..and for the example of love that she has shown me.  I wanted to share a bit of what she wrote:

 Motherhood is a process and be open to learning growing and changing as you go.  Same with marriage!  It goes through phases of growth and hard and easy times and like the ocean .. is beautiful but has highs and lows which are all a part of the beauty of the magnitude and expanse of the ocean . same  with your child and your husband.  They are complicated and will change , and surprise you at times for good and for bad! And it is all OK because God is your Foundation and ALL LOVE comes from HIM and HIS LOVE is perfect… therefore He COVERS us in mercy and grace, which we can do for each other only BECAUSE of HIM…..

Amen mom.

Baby girl is getting so big! …And sleeping through the night!! Three cheers!

You can find the itty bitty flower headband Rylee is wearing (and many others) at Sprinkles for Sprouts.

Also, the long awaited nursery pictures will be up this week!  Happy Tuesday!

Hat – Vintage / Shirt – Am. Apparel / Sweater – Free People / Tights and Socks – UO/ Shoes – Dolce Vita  

The weather is finally getting chilly again here in San Diego.  It can’t seem to make up it’s mind.  Hot then cold, hot then cold. But hopefully the Fall chill is here to stay this time and my scarves and sweaters can be put on full rotation.  It rained here last night, and rainy days (which we rarely ever see) make for the perfect excuse to stay inside, cozy up by the fire with a sketchbook, drink tea and bake a loaf of  banana bread.  That’s what I did at least.  It was a good Fall day.  I’ll need to repeat it again soon!  

Life has been good to me lately.  Rylee is growing like crazy and is almost sleeping through the night now.  Her general disposition is so happy and content….and we all know a happy baby means a happy momma!  Her big gummy smiles just melt my heart every time.  I think I am finally getting the hang of this motherhood thing!  It’s certainly been an adjustment balancing work, baby, and art…and understanding how much I can realistically take on with Rylee now in the picture..  I’ve burnt myself out so many times in the past, I want to make sure I don’t let myself get to that breaking point again….ever.  Rylee  has actually made my “no’s” a lot easier to swallow.  Instead of feeling like I am constantly disappointing people for not being able to take on their projects, I am able to look at it as the right decision for my family and an opportunity to spend more quality time with my baby  Even though I still WISH I could make everybody happy, for me to be happy, I know I just can’t.  With that said, I have actually been thinking a lot about my personal artwork and how i’d like to further pursue that going forward….after having taken a significant break to focus on baby.  I know I definitely want to create some new original (uncommissioned) work and also get a few different prints up in my shop. (Hopefully in time for Christmas shoppers!!)  But i’ve also been dreaming up some sort of baby line.  Hand made clothing, accessories and nursery room prints.  I’ve been commissioned so many times to create art for children that I thought why not create a collection of prints available online?  Up-playing the innocent and childlike characteristics that my art already possesses, and marketing it for children.  And not only offer art, but also clothes.  I can’t tell you how much I have looked for tiny stylish clothes for Rylee that don’t break the bank.  It’s honestly been hard to come by!  It seems that everything is either pink,predictable  and cheap….or absolutely adorable and ridiculously expensive.  Which is why I’ve started making things on my own for Rylee.  It’s a fraction of the price and I can get creative with pattern and color.  Not to mention a better fit! Why is everything 0-3 months SO wide!?? Ry is just barely beginning to fit into those clothes and she is coming close to her 3 month mark!  Or maybe she is just a runt for her age.  Anyway….I’m just rambling now.  The reality of doing this is probably still a ways off, but it’s just something i’ve been dreaming of lately.  What do you think?  Is there anyone out there you know of that sells baby clothes and art prints together in the same online shop? Do tell!